Money conflicts are common among couples—they may even be the leading cause of fights. But did you know many couples also have fights about food on a daily basis? In fact, the topic sparks so much interest that ABC in San Francisco asked me to be a guest on View From the Bay to talk about love, marriage, and how to keep peace at meals.
Men and women often have opposing Mars and Venus moments about nutrition, which can lead to tension and arguing in relationships. The sexes are wired differently: For example, men have a biological advantage over women due to their increased muscle mass. Losing and maintaining a healthy weight is easier for guys, and harder for women.
When it comes to long-term relationships and marriage, men win out there too. Studies have shown that women tend to gain weight when they marry. (Men may gain weight, too, but overall they actually get healthier.) Many women complain that their spouses are sabotaging their healthy eating plans. In one study, more than 70% of women on diets complained that their spouses had interfered.
Here are some of the diet dilemmas women have asked me about, and my suggestions for how to handle them. If you’ve had a similar battle of the sexes over your meals and snacks, chime in below.
The salad vs. steak showdown
The problem: “My husband says salad, stir-fry, soy, and anything healthy is ‘rabbit food.’ He just wants a meat-and-potato-type meal.”
The solution: Many men don’t find a plant-based diet as satisfying as a juicy, meaty, stick-to-the-ribs meal. What you can do is offer a compromise. Don’t try to get a carnivore hubby to be a vegan, but serve smaller portions of meat and choose the leanest cuts. Pair them with a large salad or lots of steamed veggies. Try a few subtle substitutes: Serve baked and breaded zucchini fries instead of french fries, for example, and try dishes that use lean ground beef or turkey instead of the full-fat stuff. (Here are four satisfying veggie-rich options for under $10.)
Sneaky snack sabotage
The problem: “My husband brings home cookies, chips, sodas, and other junk food all the time.”
The solution: Your husband needs to know that the food he brings home isn’t helping your efforts to stick to a healthy diet, and it may be impacting the diets of your children too. While you can’t nag him about his habits, ask him to eat those foods when he’s at work or out for meals, rather than bringing them home.
Next page: Self-improvement interference
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